Utah mom charged with first-degree murder in deaths of 6 newborns

A Utah mother was formally charged Monday with first-degree murder in the deaths of six newborn babies whose bodies, police said, were recently found inside a garage.

Megan Huntsman, 39, was not charged in the death of a seventh infant whose body also was found, because authorities believe it was stillborn, according to the Denver Channel and Reuters. She is accused of killing the infants soon after secretly giving birth without medical assistance between 1996 and 2006.

Stunned relatives and neighbors told reporters after the bodies were discovered
earlier this month that they had no idea Huntsman was pregnant at the time she is said to have given birth. Three daughters of Huntsman, age 14, 18 and 20, live at the house.

Huntsman was told of the charges during a brief hearing Monday in the Provo case, but waived a plea, reports ABC 4.

See also:

ABAJournal.com: “Woman is expected to face murder charges after 7 dead infants were discovered in her garage”

New York Times (reg. req.): “One Mother, 7 Dead Newborns and a Stunned Community in Utah”